Electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomeric composition and its use

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises a thermoplastic elastomer blend which is composed of 
     a) about 10-90 w-% of a thermoplastic elastomer component which is chosen from the following ones: 
     a styrene block copolymer of the type A-B-A, where A stands for a polystyrene block and B stands for a soft or elastic polymer block; 
     a blend of an olefin homopolymer or olefin copolymer with a thermoplastic or crosslinked elastomer, and 
     b) about 90-1 w-% of an inherently electrically conductive polymer component comprising polyaniline or its derivative which has been doped by a protonic acid.

The invention is related to electrically conductive elastomer alloys andtheir use as antistatic materials and/or EMI shielding materials.

A lot of research work in the area of electrically conductive polymersis done at the moment all around the world. These polymers make itpossible to replace metallic conductors and semi-conductors in manyapplications like batteries, transducers, switches, solar cells, circuitboards, heating elements and in electrostatic discharge (ESD) andelectromagnetic interference shielding (EMI) applications.

The advantages of electrically conductive polymers compared to metalsare for instance their low weight, good mechanical properties, corrosionresistance and cheaper synthesis and processing methods.

Electrically conductive polymers can be roughly divided in two differentcategories: filled electrically conductive plastics, which are composedof thermoplastics or thermosets containing electrically conductivefillers like carbon black or soot, carbon fibres, metal powder, etc. andinherently electrically conductive plastics, which are based on polymersthat are made electrically conductive by oxidation or reduction(doping).

The electrical conductivity of filled electrically conductive plasticsdepends on the physical contacts between the electrically conductivefiller particles. In general one needs about 10-50 w-% of well dispersedfillers in order to obtain composites with good conductivity. However,there are problems with such conductive composites: their mechanical andsome chemical properties disimprove considerably when increasing thefiller content and the electrical conductivity is difficult to controlespecially in the semiconductive region when the polymer contentdecreases. Also a long lasting and homogenous dispersion of fillers intothe matrix plastic is difficult to obtain.

Inherently electrically conductive plastics can be made from organicpolymers, in which there are long chains with conjugated double bonds ordouble bonds and hetero-atoms. The stable π- and π-p-electron-systems inthe double bonds and hetero-atoms can be disturbed by adding to thepolymer certain doping agents or additives which either attract orrepell electrons. In this way holes and/or excess electrons are obtainedin the polymer chain, which make it possible for an electrical currentto go along the conjugated chain.

An advantage with the inherently electrically conductive polymers isthat their electrical conductivity is easily varied as a function of thedoping time, which is especially seen in the case of low conductivities.It is difficult to obtain low conductivities for filled electricallyconductive plastics. Examples of inherently electrically conductivepolymers are polyacetylene, poly-p-phenylene, polypyrole, polythiopheneand polyaniline.

One technically and commercially promising inherently electricallyconductive polymer is polyaniline and its derivatives. The anilinepolymer is based on an aniline unit, the nitrogen atom of which isbonded to the paracarbon of the benzene ring of the next unit.Non-substituted polyaniline can appear in many forms like theleukoemeraldine, protoemeraldine, emeraldine, nigraniline andtolu-protoemeraldine forms.

The so called basic emeraldine form of polyaniline is normally describedby molecular model (I) ##STR1## in which X is about 0.5.

In patent applications EP-545 729 and EP-582 919 polyaniline and itsderivatives have been obtained in an easily melt processable form bycontacting polyaniline or its derivative and a protonic acid under highshear forces and a temperature of about 80-300° C. Furthermore in thelatter patent application EP-582919 the product based on polyaniline anda protonic acid has been improved by permanently adding a metalcompound. In the same patent application it has also been suggested thatthe electrically conductive and melt processable polyaniline polymerobtained is mixed with a thermoplastic in order to form an electricallyconductive plastic blend. Thermoplastic blends which have been mentionedare the olefinic polymers, styrenic polymers, vinyl polymers, acrylicpolymers and the thermoplastic polycondenzation polymers.

In patent application EP-582 919 mentioned above one also considered thepossibility that polyaniline or its derivatives which have been dopedwith a protonic acid in the manner explained could be contacted with athermoplastic elastomer in order to obtain an electrically conductiveplastic mixture or blend. It was considered to be no problems to combinethe electrically conductive and melt processable polyaniline productswith a thermoplastic elastomer component. However, in the preliminarytests it was found that it was very problematic to obtain athermoplastic blend of an electrically conductive polymer and anelastomer.

The aim with this invention was to obtain an electrically conductive andthermoplastic elastomer blend in which an electrical conductivity of theESD and EMI level is combined with good mechanical and chemicalproperties. The objective was also to obtain a homogenous plasticproduct in which all components are compatible and melt processable.

The objectives mentioned above have now been reached with a new type ofelectrically conductive and melt processable elastomer blend which ismainly characterized by the following composition:

a) about 10-89 w-% of a thermoplastic elastomer component which has beenchosen from the following types:

A styrene-block-copolymer of the A-B-A-type, in which A means apolystyrene-block and B means a soft or elastic polymer-block:

A blend of an olefinic homo- or co-polymer and a crosslinked elastomer,

and

b) about 90-1 w-% of an inherently electrically conductive polymercomponent, which is composed of polyaniline or its derivative which hasbeen doped with a protonic acid.

In general an electrically conductive component means a complex based onpolyaniline or its derivative as it has been defined in the publicationsEP-627 745 and EP-582 919 which are enclosed as references.

It was realised that an electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomerblend can be obtained with very specific combinations, namely bycombining an A-B-A-type styrene-block-copolymer and polyaniline dopedwith a protonic acid or by combining an olefinic type of elastomer andpolyaniline doped with a protonic acid The other types of thermoplasticelastomer components cannot at all be combined with polyaniline whichhas been doped with a protonic acid and their mixtures or blends are notelectrically conductive. Such specific combinations could not beforeseen based on the publication FI-923 580.

The preferred amount of polyaniline or its derivative doped with aprotonic acid which can be added to the invented electrically conductivethermoplastic elastomer blend is between 90-5 w-%. It is, however, morepreferred if this amount is 40-10 w-% which causes very useful elastomermaterials for ESD and EMI applications.

As mentioned the elastomer component of the invented electricallyconductive thermoplastic elatomer blend can be an A-B-A-typestyrene-block-copolymer in which A means a polystyrene block and B meansa soft or elastic polymer block. Covered by the patent application arein principal all styrene-block-copolymers of this type. These are moreclosely described in the publications Morton, M., Rubber Chem. Technol.,56, 1096 (1983). According to one of the possibilities the elastomercomponent a) has been chosen from the following group of A-B-A-typestyrene-block copolymers: A is a polystyrene-block and B is apolybutadiene-block (SBS); A is a polystyrene-block and B is apolyisoprene-block (SIS); A is a polystyrene-block and B is a poly(ethylene-co-butylene) block (SEBS); A is a polystyrene-block and B is apolydimethylsiloxane-block; in all cases A can also be a poly(α-methyl-styrene) block.

According to one favourable possibility of the invention theelectrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend contains as theelastomer component a) an A-B-A-type of styrene-block-copolymer in whichA is a polystyrene block and B is a poly (ethylene-co-butylene) block(SEBS).

According to another possibility of the invention the electricallyconductive thermoplastic elastomer blend contains as the elastomercomponent a) a blend of an olefin homopolymer or olefin copolymer with acrosslinked elastomer. The word "crosslinked" means a polymer in whichthe macromolecules have been linked to each other to form a networkeither physically, (for instance by crystallization) or chemically (forinstance by covalent bonds). Such a polymer is favourably chosen fromthe following group: a blend of a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymerand an ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR); a blend of a polypropylenehomopolymer or copolymer and an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM);a blend of a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer and anacrylate-rubber; and a blend of a polyethylene homopolymer or copolymerand an acrylate-rubber; in all of which the rubber can be eitherphysically or chemically crosslinked. According to one favourable casethe elastomer component a) is a blend of a polypropylene homopolymer andan ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM), in which the rubber iscrosslinked (vulcanized). In this case the electrically conductivepolymer component dissolves in the polypropylene phase whereby betterhomogeneity and higher conductivity are obtained with smaller contents.

According to one most favourable possibility of the invention theelectrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend has got anelastomer component a) which in a blend of an olefin homopolymer or anolefin copolymer and a crosslinked acrylate rubber. The olefinhomopolymer or copolymer component of this blend can for instance behigh density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE) andlinear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Polyethylene may also containsmall amounts of other monomers than ethylene. Among useful ethylenecopolymers one should mention the ones in which the comonomer isvinylacetate, vinylchloride, propylene or some other α-olefin, C₁ -C₇-alkylacrylates or -methacrylates, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid,hydroxyalkylacrylate or -methacrylate, glycidylacrylate or-methacrylate, a diene like 1,4-hexadiene, 1,5-hexadiene, 1,6-hexadiene,1,4-2-methylpentadiene 1,7-octadiene, 1,5-6-methylhexadiene oroctatriene or polyenes of the bicyclopentadiene type.

Also an ethylene-α-olefin-polyene-terpolymer is suitable as the olefincopolymer component for a olefin copolymer acrylate rubber blend. As apreferred α-olefin-monomer for such a terpolymer one can mentionpropylene, butylene, pentene, isoprene, hexene or any combination ofthese and as a pre-ferred polyenemonomer one can mention 1,4-hexadiene,1,5-hexadiene, 1,6-heptadiene, 1,4-2-methylpentadiene, 1,7-octadiene,1,5-6-methylheptadiene, octatriene and bicyclopentadiene. In case of anethylene copolymer the ethylene content must be at least 50 w-% of thecopolymer.

When the elastomer component a) of the invented electrically conductivethermo-plastic elastomer blend is a blend of an olefin polymer and anacrylate rubber the olefin polymer component can also be polypropyleneor a propylene copolymer. Among the comonomers one can mention theaforementioned comonomers which can be used together with ethylene. Itis important that the concentration of propylene in the propylenecopolymer is over 50% by weight. Furthermore one should mention therandom copolymers and blockcopolymers of propylene and ethylene.

Most preferred elastomer components a) of the invented electricallyconductive thermoplastic elastomer blend are: a blend ofpoly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate) and acrylate rubber; a blend of poly(ethylene-co-butyl-acrylate) and acrylate rubber; a blend of linear lowdensity polyethylene (LLDPE) and acrylate rubber as well as a blend ofpolypropylene random copolymer and acrylate rubber.

The acrylate rubber of aforementioned elastomer component a) ispreferably such an acrylate or methacrylate copolymer that has a lowglass transition temperature. It is preferred to have a glass transitiontemperature below +20° C. and most preferred if it is below -20° C. Theglass transition temperature of the acrylate polymer determines thelower use temperature of the material, because below the glasstransition temperature the acrylate polymer is hard and non-elastic, sothat the material loses its elastomeric properties. It is preferred tohave an acrylate rubber containing C₁ -C₁₂ - or more preferred C₂ -C₁₂-alkylacrylates or alternatively C₄ -C₁₄ - or more preferred C₈ -C₁₄-alkylmethacrylates. Most preferred such acrylate rubbers areethylhexylacrylate polymers and butylacrylate polymers.

The monomer of the acrylate rubber can be used alone or as mixtures oftwo or several. In addition to the acrylate monomers mentioned above onecan also use smaller amounts of monomers with alkylgroups containingless carbon atoms. In this way one can regulate the glass transitiontemperature of the final product. As comonomers one can also use suchacrylates and methacrylates which in addition to the ester bond containother polar groups, like alkoxy or hydroxy groups. As examples one canmention methoxy- and ethoxyethylacrylate, methoxy- andethoxy-butylacrylate, hydroxyethyl- and hydroxypropyl methacrylate etc.By using such comonomers one can improve the oil resistance of theproduct. When making acrylate rubber one can also use comonomers whichare not acrylates.

When the elastomer component of the invented electrically conductivethermoplastic elastomer blend is a) a blend of olefin homopolymer orolefin copolymer and acrylate rubber it is advantageous that the portionof acrylate rubber is about 20-90 w-% of the combined weight of olefinhomopolymer or olefin copolymer and acrylate rubber. When makingelastomer components based on polypropylene it is advantageous to use50-90 w-% acrylate rubber and when making elastomer components based onethylene it is advantageous to use 50-90 w-% acrylate rubber forpolyethylene homopolymers and named 20-90 w-% acrylate rubber forpolyethylene copolymers.

One can also add oils and fillers to blends of olefin homopolymers orolefin copolymers and acrylate rubber. A normal way of making such anelastomer component a) which is composed of an olefin homopolymer orolefin copolymer and acrylate rubber is to impregnate the acrylatemonomer and its initiating initiator into polyolefin particles afterwhich their polymerisation is done at elevated temperature. If neededthe acrylate rubber can be crosslinked by using small amounts ofmultifunctional acrylates like diacrylates together with the acrylatemonomer. Then the other unsaturated group of the acrylate crosslinks thechains into a network. Typical crosslinkable acrylate comonomers of thiskind are hexanedioldiacrylate or -dimethacrylate, butanedioldiacrylateor -dimethacrylate. The amount of crosslinkable monomer is normally 0-15w-% of the total amount of acrylate.

The acrylate rubber is normally made by radical polymerisation and onecan use as initiator normal peroxides and azo-compounds used in thisfield.

Above the invented electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blendand its component a) the thermoplastic elastomer component have beendescribed. Below we are going to describe component b), the inherentlyelectrically conductive polymer component. In this invention theinherently electrically conductive polymer component is composed ofpolyaniline or its derivative which has been doped by a protonic acid.As was mentioned in the introduction the aniline polymer is based on ananiline unit the nitrogen atom of which is bonded to the para carbon ofthe benzene ring of the next unit. The aniline polymer can benon-substituted or its benzene ring can have substituents.Non-substituted polyaniline can appear in several forms among which onecan mention the leukoemeraldine, protoemeraldine, emeraldine,nigraniline and tolu-protoemeraldine forms. According to one preferableway of using the invention the inherently electrically conductivepolymer component b) is composed of the emeraldine base form ofpolyaniline which has been doped by a protonic acid.

This emeraldine base form is normally described by the molecularstructure (I). ##STR2## in which X is around 0.5.

The polyaniline used in the invention is doped by a protonic acid. Theprotonic acid can be any protonic acid which dopes polyaniline or itsderivative. According to one way of using the invention the inherentlyelectrically conductive polymer component b) is composed of polyanilineor its derivative, which has been doped by a protonic acid chosen fromthe following group: hydrochloric acid; sulphuric acid; nitric acid;perchloroacid, fluoroboric acid; hexafluorophosphoric acid; hydrofluoricacid; phosphoric acids; sulphonic acid; picric acid; m-nitrobenzoicacid; dichloroacetic acid. Preferable protonic acids are the organicsulphonic acids, more preferable the aromatic sulphonic acids and mostpreferable dodecyl-benzene-sulphonic acid (DBSA).

As was mentioned earlier the doping of polyaniline or its derivative bya protonic acid is preferably done by contacting polyaniline or itsderivative and a protonic acid under high shear forces and at atemperature of about 80-300° C. Preferable machines which create highshear forces and elevated temperatures are the ones used in meltprocessing of plastics like kneaders, mixing extruders and mixers. Themixing temperature is preferably between 40-300° C., more preferablybetween 80-250° C. and most preferably 100-200° C. The molar ratio ofpolyaniline or its derivative and protonic acid is preferably between1:0.1-1:1.1, more preferably between 1:0.5-1:0.7. The molar content ofpolyaniline or its derivative is calculated here as the number ofaniline-units.

Component b) of the invented electrically conductive thermoplasticelastomer blend, the polyaniline or its derivative which has been dopedby protonic acid, can according to one preferable way of making it alsocontain a metal compound which affects the protonic acid dopedpolyaniline or its derivative as a:

i) neutralizer

ii) plasticizer

iii) percolation point suppressor and/or

iv) stabilizer

Here the percolation point is defined as the weight ratio of theconductive compound or component b) which is needed to provide theinvented blend with component a) an electrical conductivity of at least10⁻⁶ S/cm.

According to one definition of the invented electrically conductivethermoplastic elastomer blend it is a totally polymeric thermoplasticelastomer blend, which has a percolation point as low as about 10 w-%,both with and without the metal compound mentioned above.

The metal compound component of named component b) or the protonic aciddoped polyaniline or its derivative is preferably a metal salt or areaction product of a metal oxide or metal hydroxide and a protonicacid. The most preferable metal compound is the reaction product of zinkoxide and dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid (DBSA).

In principle the invented electrically conductive thermoplasticelastomer blend can be obtained by melt compounding together componenta) which is a thermoplastic elastomer component and component b), whichis a protonic acid doped polyaniline or its derivative and possibly oneor several additives using any kind of melt compounding device. For thispurpose one can use kneaders, mixers and mixing extruders. When using athermoplastic elastomer component a) which is an A-B-A type ofstyrene-block copolymer the mixing can be preferably done with anextruder at about 160-210° C. and most preferably at a screw rotationspeed of about 40-170 1/min.

When using a thermoplastic elastomer component a) which is an olefinhomopolymer or copolymer the mixing can be preferably done with anextruder at a temperature of about 165-220° C. and most preferably at ascrew rotation speed of about 50-200 1/min.

As was mentioned earlier the invented electrically conductivethermoplastic elastomer blend has such an electrical conductivity whichmakes it suitable for antistatic protection (ESD) and electromagneticinterference shielding (EMI). Therefore is the invention focusing onthese end-uses and especially their applications as connectors,switches, contact mats, sensors as well as seals and electricallyconductive rolls. Furthermore there are interesting applications likecorrosion protection, glues and coatings, cable shielding as well aspackaging, floor mats and other working surfaces and storingapplications.

The invention is presented below with demonstration and referenceexamples and their only purpose is to describe the invention.

DEMONSTRATION AND REFERENCE EXAMPLES

Below reference is made to the following figures:

FIG. 1 presents the conductivities of Kraton G 1652 SEBS with differentPANI contents,

FIG. 2 presents the conductivites of Santoprene 64 ShA and 80 ShA withdifferent PANI grades and contents, and

FIG. 3 presents the conductivities of PACREL elastomer with differentPANI grades and contents.

1. Materials

Enclosed a list of selected elastomer matrixes (component a):

    ______________________________________                                        ex. 1 and 7                                                                            Copolyester - TPE (COPE), HYTREL (Du Pont)                             (reference)                                                                   ex. 2 and 8 Polyurethane - TPE (TPU) ESTANE (BFGoodrich)                      (reference)                                                                   ex. 3 and 9 PP/Vulcanized EPDM - TPE(TPV),                                    (performance) SANTOPRENE - 64 (AES)                                           ex. 4 and 10 Styrene block-co-polymer SEBS, KRATON G (Shell)                  (reference)                                                                   ex. 5 and 11 Silicone (MQ), SILOPREN LSR (Bayer)                              (reference)                                                                   ex. 6a and 12a EBA/pBA PACREL ® (Optatech)                                (performance)                                                                 ex. 6b and 12b PP/pBA TPE PACREL ® (Optatech)                             (performance)                                                               ______________________________________                                    

TPE=thermoplastic elastomer

EPDM=ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer rubber

EBA=ethylene-butyl-acrylate copolymer

pBA=polybutylacrylate

PP=polypropylene

The COPE elastomer grade chosen was HYTREL G3548W which melting point is156° C., hardness 35 Shore D, tensile strength 10.3 MPa and elongation200%.

The TPU elastomer grades chosen were ESTANE 58206 (polyester type) andESTANE 58300 (polyether type). ESTANE 58206 hardness is 85A, tensilestrength 45 MPa and elongation 550%. ESTANE 58300 softening temperatureis 76° C., hardness 80A, tensile strength 32 Mpa and elongation 700%.

The TPV elastomer grades chosen were SANTOPRENE 210-64 and 210-80.SANTOPRENE 210-64 hardness is 64A, tensile strength 6.9 MPa andelongation 330%. SANTOPRENE 210-80 hardness is 80A, tensile strength11.0 MPa and elongation 450% (values are from a brochure of AES).

The SEBS elastomer grade chosen was KRATON G 1652 which hardness is 75A,tensile strength 31 MPa and elongation 500% (values are from Shell'sbrochure).

The silicon elastomer grade chosen was the two components castabilegrade SILOPREN LSR 2050 which hardness is about 50A, tensile strengthabout 30 MPa and elongation about 500% (values are from Bayer'sbrochure).

Optatech's (Neste's) thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers belong to thesame class of TPE grades as SANTOPRENE, except the manufacturingtechnique is different and the EPDM elastomer is replaced bypolyacrylate rubber (pBA). The TPE elastomer matrix EBA/pBA hardness is73A and tensile strength 5 Mpa. The TPE elastomer matrix PP/pBA hardnessis 86A and tensile strength 7 Mpa.

The intrinsically conductive thermoplastic component (component b) isPanisol®, trademark of Neste Oy. Panisol (enclosed named as PANI) is amelt processed product of polyaniline and dodecylbenzenesulphonic acid(DBSA). The melt processed product of a mixture of zincoxide/DBSA isnamed HC PANI.

2. Processing Conditions

The blending was made with a Brabender twoscrew extruder. The rawmaterials were dried in a drier over night at 75° C. and thendryblended.

In the first test the suitable process conditions for processing HYTRELG3548W was found out. The processing temperatures were found out to be165° C. for zone I, 170° C. for zone II and 180° C. for zone III, whenthe speed of screw rotation was 25 1/min.

In the second test the conditions for processing PANI complex and COPEwas found out. In the test 20 w-% PANI complex was blended with 80 w-%HYTREL G3548W. The processing temperatures were 165° C. in zone I, 170°C. in zone II and 180° C. in zone III, when the screw speed was 251/min.

In the third test the suitable processing conditions for blending HCPANI complex and COPE was found out. In the test 20 w-% HC PANI complexwas blended with 80 w-% HYTREL G3548W. At first the processingtemperatures were 165° C. in zone I, 170° C. in zone II and 180° C. inzone III, when the screw speed was 25 1/min. Because HC PANI wasplasticizing the blend, it came out as a melt and the processingtemperatures were changed to 145° C. for zone I, 150° C. for zone II and150° C. for zone III, when the screw speed was 20 1/min.

In the fourth test the conditions for processing KRATON G 1652 was foundout. The suitable processing temperatures were found out as 170° C. forzone I, 180° C. for zone II and 190° C. for zone III, when the screwspeed was 20 1/min. When the screw speed was higher the product startedto darken and the die blocked.

In the fifth test the suitable conditions for processing PANI complexand KRATON G 1652 was found out. In the test 20 w-% PANI complex wasblended with 80 w-% KRATON G 1652. The processing temperatures were 170°C. in zone I, 190° C. in zone II and 200° C. in zone III, when the screwspeed was 40 1/min. The changes of conditions were made to get theproduct out from the screw with as good quality as possible.

In the sixth test the suitable conditions for processing HC PANI complexand KRATON G 1652 was found out. In the test 20 w-% HC PANI complex wasblended with 80 w-% KRATON G 1652. The suitable processing temperatureswere found out as 180° C. for zone I, 190° C. for zone II and 200° C.for zone III, when the screw speed was 40 1/min.

The two components SILOPREN LSR-SILICONE blending was made with a mixerand BRABENDER PLASTICORDER extruder. In the test of SILOPREN PANIcomplex was added to the premixed components and to both componentbefore final blending and crosslinking. The rest of the tests, includingthe samples of OPTATECH's TPE (PACREL®), were made with aKlockner-Ferromatic/Eimotekniikka extruder which was also used forinjection moulding of the samples. Processing conditions and settingsare shown in Appendix 1-5.

The EBA/pBA and PP/pBA samples were predried for five hours at 70° C.before blending.

3. Results

Results are shown in Table 1 and Table 2.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Conductivity S/cm, 4-point                                                                        Tensile strength, Mpa                                          10 w-%   20 w-%   30 w-% 10 w-%                                                                              20 w-%                                                                              30 w-%                                Ex. PANI PANI PANI PANI PANI PANI                                           ______________________________________                                        1   no        no        no      -     -     -                                    con- con- con-                                                                ductivity ductivity ductivity                                                2 no no 8.42 E-7 - 0 0                                                         con- con-                                                                     ductivity ductivity                                                          3  6.0 E-8 2.9 E-3 - 2.7 2.5                                                  4 2.2 E-4 2.2 E-3  7.6 3.2 -                                                  5 no no no - - -                                                               con- con- con-                                                                ductivity ductivity ductivity                                                6a 2.7 E-6 1.3 E-4 6.74 E-4 2.7 1.9 1.5                                       6b 4.3 E-5 5.0 E-4  -- -- --                                                ______________________________________                                         Example                                                                       1. Hytrel: copolyester (COPE)                                                 2. Estane: polyurethane (TPU)                                                 3. Santoprene 64; PP/EPDM (TPY)                                               4. Kraton G: styrene block copolymer (SEBS)                                   5. Silopren LSR: silicone rubber (MQ)                                         6a. Neste poly(ethyleneco-butyl-acrylate)/polybutylacrylate (PACREL ®     P6)                                                                           6b. Neste polypropylene PP/polybutylacrylate (PACREL ® 122)               Conductive polymer component Panisol ® (PANI)                             Ex means 10.sup.-X                                                       

                                      TABLE 2                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Conductivity S/cm, 4-point                                                                           Tensile strength, Mpa                                       10 w-%                                                                              20 w-%                                                                              30 w-%                                                                              10 w-%                                                                             20 w-%                                                                             30 w-%                                         Ex HCPANI HCPANI HCPANI HCPANI HCPANI HCPANI                                __________________________________________________________________________    7 (1)      4.84 E-9                                                                            6.39 E-8                                                                            --   2.8  2.8                                            8 (2) no no no -- -- --                                                        conductivity conductivity conductivity                                       9 (3) <1.0 E-12 2.65 E-3 4.95 E-3 3.2 2.3 2.6                                 10 (4)  1.9 E-3  -- 4.5 --                                                    11 (5) no no no -- -- --                                                       conductivity conductivity conductivity                                       12a (6a)  3.4 E-12 4.08 E-6 -- 2.4 2.0                                        12b (6b) 4.3 E-5 5.0 E-4 8.08 E-4 5.0 3.2 2.6                               __________________________________________________________________________     Example                                                                       7. Hytrel: copolyester (COPE)                                                 8. Estane: po1yurethane (TPU)                                                 9. Santoprene 64; PP/EPDM (TPV)                                               10. Kraton G: styrene block copolymer (SEBS)                                  11. Silopren LSR: silicone rubber (MQ)                                        12a. Optatech's poly(ethyleneco-butyl-acrylate)/polybutylacrylate (PACREL     ® P6)                                                                     12b. Optatech's polypropylene/polybutylacrylate (PACREL ® 122)            Conductive polymer HC Panisol ® (HCPANI):                                 melt processed product of polyaniline/dodecylbenzenesulphonic                 acid/zincoxide                                                                Ex means 10.sup.-X                                                       

A Brabender twinscrew extruder was not suitable for blending PANIcomplex and SEBS elastomer, because the conductivity of the product wasbad and the mixing poor. The shear forces of the screw were not highenough for the PANI complex.

Because of that the rest of the tests were made with theKlockner-Ferromatic /Eimotekniikka extruder in Tarmola.

In the tests 1104₋₋ 1-3 a conductivity of 2.1 E-3 S/cm was achieved witha 20 w-% PANI complex concentration in the four point measurement of ablend of SEBS KRATON G (See Appendix I and FIG. 1). And in the tests1104₋₋ 4-6 a conductivity of 2.2 E-4 S/cm with 10 w-% PANI complexconcentration in the SEBS blend. The complex concentration had not aremarkable affect on the conductivity. In the tests 1204₋₋ 1,2,4 aconductivity of 1.9 E-3 S/cm was achieved for a 20 w-% HC PANI complex aconcentration in a blend of SEBS.

According to the mechanical properties of the tests (Appendix I) thehardness of SEBS increased 5 ShA with 10% of PANI and 6-7 ShA with 20%.The tensile strength and elongation results changed by 10% from 18 MPa(Note manufacturer's results) to 8 Mpa (measured after processing) andby 20% addition from 3 to 5 Mpa which is a too big change for someapplications.

In the test 1204 (180° C., 50 rpm) the best conductivity of 1.0 E-5 S/cm(see App. 2) was achieved with a 30 w-% PANI complex concentration in ablend of HYTREL COPE. The blend was not conducting if the processingtemperature was 160° C. or less. It was not conducting if normal PANIcomplex was used or if the concentration was less than 20%. The hardnessof HYTREL was decreased a little after adding PANI. Tensile strength andelongation was decreased so much that it will not meet typicalspecifications of HYTREL. These properties can be increased byoptimizing the process conditions. The complex type and concentrationhad a strong effect on the conductivity of a blend of SANTOPRENE TPV(see Appendix 3 and FIG. 2). In the tests 1504₋₋ 13-15 the bestconductivity of 5.0 E-3 S/cm was achieved with a 30 w-% HC PANI complexconcentration in a blend of SANTOPRENE and in tests 1504₋₋ 16-18 aconductivity of 2.7 E-3 S/cm with a 20 w-% HC PANI complex concentrationin a blend of SANTOPRENE.

In the tests 1504₋₋ 1-3 a conductivity of 2.9 E-3 S/cm was achieved witha 30 w-% PANI complex concentration in a blend of TPV and in tests1504₋₋ 4-6 a conductivity of 6.0 E-8 S/cm with 20 w-% HC PANI complexconcentration in a blend of TPV. The SANTOPRENE hardness increased from1 to 8 ShA after adding PANI complex. Tensile strength decreased for thegrade 201-64 from 5.5 MPa to 2.5-3.0 MPa. Elongation decreased withincreasing concentration of PANI, from 200% to 137% with 10% PANI, to80% with 20% PANI and to 14-40% with 30% PANI. For the SANTOPRENE grade201-80 tensile strength decreased from 9 Mpa to 3.8-5.0 MPa andelongation decreased the same amount to below 100% compared to thegrade.

The blend of PANI complex and TPU elastomer were not conducting (seeAppendix 4). In the test 2104-13 the best "conductivity" of 8.4 E-7 S/cmwas achieved in a TPU blend. It was "conducting" less if HC PANI orhigher concentration was used. Polyurethane samples were too brittle tomeasure any mechanical properties.

The two component SILOPREN LSR silicone was not made conducting with themethods used. The PANI complex was not mixing well into the siliconepasta and the viscosity increased after adding PANI making the castingimpossible. The tests should continue with silicone and different typesof PANI complex because conductive silicones have been used ininteresting and increasing applications.

Both Optatech's EBA/pBA and PP/pBA grades were made conductive (seeAppendix 5 and FIG. 3).

EBA/pBA (PACREL P-6) conductivity was better by using normal PANIcomplex. With 30% PANI the conductivity was 6.7 E-4 S/cm, 20% PANI 1.3E-4 S/cm and 10% PANI 2.4 E-6 S/cm. HC PANI grade conductivity was thebest 8.1 E-6 with 30% HC PANI concentration (average 4.1 E-6). PACRELP-6 hardness was not affected by adding PANI. Tensile strength decreasedwith 20 and 30% PANI, but was nearly the same with 10% PANI, which meetsthe antistatic requirements well.

Polypropene based PP/pBA (PACREL 122) conductivities were with normalPANI complex, 30% concentration 8.1 E-4 S/cm, with 20% 5.0 E-4 S/cm andeven with 10% concentration 4.3 E-5 S/cm. HC PANI gave worseconductivities than normal PANI. PACREL 122 hardness was nearly the sameafter blending, strength decreased remarkable with higher PANIconcentration and just a little with 10% concentration.

                                      APPENDIX 1                                  __________________________________________________________________________                                         Conduc-                                       Tem- Ro- Conduc- Conduc- tivity Tensile  Mod- Mod-                            pera- tation tivity tivity 4-point strength Elongation ulus ulus                                                                   Hardness                                                                        Matrix  ture,                                                               speed, 2-point,                                                               4-point,                                                                      average (MPa) %                                                               10% 50% IRHD/                                                                  Test SEBS                                                                    Complex                                                                       ° C.                                                                   1/min S/cm S/cm                                                               (S/cm) MD/TD:                                                                 MD/TD: MPa MPa                                                                ShA                 __________________________________________________________________________        Kraton G 1652                                                                        0%                             17.6/20.5                                                                          370/480    73/75                 1104 1 Kraton G 1652 20 p-% Panisol 180 150 3.8 E4 1.90 E-03  2.8 124                                                                 2.5 2.5 87/81                                                                  1104 2 Kraton                                                                G 1652 20 p-%                                                                 Panisol 180 150                                                               8.9 E4 2.10                                                                   E-03 2.17 E-03                                                                3.8 185 2.3 2.5       1104 3 Kraton G 1652 20 p-% Panisol 180 150 6.7 E4 2.50 E-03  3.1 46                                                                  2.8                   1104 4 Kraton G 1652 10 p-% Panisol 180 150 3.6 E-5 1.30 E-04  7.0 257                                                                2.3 2.8                                                                        1104 5 Kraton                                                                G 1652 10 p-%                                                                 Panisol 180 50                                                                6.8 E-5 2.10                                                                  E-04 2.70 E-04                                                                8.5 340 2.5 3.1                                                               87/80                 1104 6 Kraton G 1652 10 p-% Panisol 180 50 1.1 E-4 3.30 E-04  7.3 286                                                                 2.9 3.1                                                                        1104 7 Kraton                                                                G 1652 20 p-%                                                                 Panisol 180 50                                                                NIA NIA  2.9 73                                                               2.1 2.9                                                                        1104 8 Kraton                                                                G 1652 20 p-%                                                                 Panisol 180 50                                                                1.9 E-5 6.90                                                                  E-04 7.75 E-04                                                                2.7 81 1.9 2.7                                                                 1104 9 Kraton                                                                G 1652 20 p-%                                                                 Panisol 180 50                                                                2.7 E-5 8.60                                                                  E-04  3.0 103                                                                 2.1 3 91/95                                                                    1204 1 Kraton                                                                G 1652 20 p-%                                                                 Panisol 170 50                                                                (5.6 E-5) 1.10                                                                E-03  4.3 145                                                                 2.3 3.9                                                                        1204 2 Kraton                                                                G 1652 20 p-%                                                                 HC Panisol 170                                                                50 2.0 E-4 2.60                                                               E-03 1.90 E-03                                                                4.5 171 2.5 2.7       1204 3 Kraton G 1652 20 p-% HC Panisol 170 50 (4.5 E-7) 6.50 E-05  4.5                                                                43 3.0                1204 4 Kraton G 1652 20 p-% HC Panisol 170 50 1.9 E-4 2.00 E-03  (9.1)                                                                282 1.8 2.6                                                                   89/92               __________________________________________________________________________

                                      APPENDIX 2                                  __________________________________________________________________________                                 Conduc-                                                                            Conduc-           Mod-                                                                             Mod-                        Tempera- Rotation tivity tivity Cor- Tensile Elon- ulus ulus                                                                       Hardness                                                                          ture speed,                                                               2-point,                                                                      4-point,                                                                      relation                                                                      strength gation                                                               10% 50% IRHD/                                                                  Test Matrix                                                                  Complex                                                                       ° C.                                                                   1/min S/cm S/cm                                                               MD/TD: MPa (%)                                                                MPa MPa             __________________________________________________________________________                                                              ShA                     Hytrel 3548                                                                         0                                 8.0/12.7                                                                          99/555    91/89/24                                                                       1104 10 Hytrel                                                               3548 20 p-%                                                                   Panisol 170 50                                                                1.2 E-9 NIA                                                                   V-limit 3.4 58                                                                2 3.4 88/83                                                                    1104 11 Hytrel                                                               3548 20 p-%                                                                   Panisol 160 50                                                                1.2 E-9 NIA                                                                   V-limit 4.7 169                                                               2 3.7                 1104 12 Hytrel 3548 20 p-% Panisol 150 50 1.2 E-9 NIA V-limit 5.6 198                                                                 2.2 4.1                                                                        1104 13 Hytrel                                                               3548 20 p-% HC                                                                Panisol 160 50                                                                5.1 E-9 4.84                                                                  E-9 0.99883 2.8                                                               27 1.67                                                                        1204 20 Hytrel                                                               3548 20 p-% HC                                                                Panisol 150 50                                                                2.2 E-8 2.54                                                                  E-8 0.99746                                                                   0.34 7 0.01                                                                   82/73                 1204 5  Hytrel 3548 30 p-% HC Panisol 160 50 (2.2 E-7) (6.7 E-7)  2.9                                                                 22 2.5  90/85                                                                  1204 6  Hytrel                                                               3548 30 p-% HC                                                                Panisol 160 50                                                                0.60 E-7 6.52                                                                 E-8 0.99692 2.7                                                               17 2.4                1204 7  Hytrel 3548 30 p-% HC Panisol 160 50 0.57 E-7 6.26 E-8 0.99611                                                                2.9 24 2.4                                                                     1204 8  Hytrel                                                               3548 30 p-% HC                                                                Panisol 150 50                                                                0.22 E-7 3.42                                                                 E-8 0.99652 2 4                                                               25 1.9                1204 9  Hytrel 3548 30 p-% HC Panisol 140 50 0.25 E-7 3.47 E-8 0.99754                                                                3.3 31 2.4                                                                     1204 10 Hytrel                                                               3548 30 p-% HC                                                                Panisol 170 50                                                                4.9 E-7 1.09                                                                  E-5 0.99991 2.7                                                               16 2.5                1204 11 Hytrel 3548 30 p-% HC Panisol 180 50 5.0 E-7 0.99 E-5 0.99999                                                                 2.5 17 2.2                                                                    89/81                 1204 12 Hytrel 3548 20 p-% HC Panisol 180 50 0.13 E-7 1.61 E-8 0.99803                                                                3 36 2.2                                                                       1204 13 Hytrel                                                               3548 20 p-% HC                                                                Panisol 160 50                                                                0.09 E-7 1.74                                                                 E-08 9.98 E-01                                                                3.5 51 2.4                                                                     1204 14 Hytrel                                                               3548 20 p-%                                                                   Panisol 160 50                                                                1.9 E-9 NIA                                                                   V-limit 4.1 81                                                                2 3.8                 1204 15 Hytrel 3548 20 p-% Panisol 160 50 1.4 E-9 NIA V-limit 5.1 158 2                                                               3.8 87/84                                                                      1204 16 Hytrel                                                               3548 20 p-%                                                                   Panisol 160 50                                                                2.0 E-9 NIA                                                                   V-limit 4.8 215                                                               1.8 3.5                                                                        1204 17 Hytrel                                                               3548 30 p-%                                                                   Panisol 170 50                                                                2.0 E-9 NIA                                                                   V-limit 3.6 125                                                               1.7                   1204 18 Hytrel 3548 30 p-% Paniso1 170 50 2.0 E-9 NIA V-limit 4.4 214                                                                 1.8 3.2                                                                        1204 19 Hytrel                                                               3548 30 p-%                                                                   Panisol 180 50                                                                1.9 E-9 NIA                                                                   V-limit 4.2 209                                                               1.8 3.2             __________________________________________________________________________                                                              85/80           

                                      APPENDIX 3                                  __________________________________________________________________________                            Matrixes:                                                                           Santoprene 201-64                                  Santoprene 201-80                                                            Complexes: Panisol                                                             HC Panisol                                                                                      Rotation                                                                           Conductivity                                                                        Conductivity                                                                         Tensile  Modulus                                                                            Modulus                                                                            Hardness                                                                        Elastomer                                                                   Panisol-                                                                      Temperature,                                                                  speed 2-point                                                                 4-point                                                                       strength                                                                      Elongation 10%                                                                50% IRHD/                                                                      Test matrix                                                                  complex                                                                       ° C.                                                                   1/min S/cm S/cm                                                               MPa % MPa MPa                                                                 ShA                 __________________________________________________________________________        201-64                                                                             0%                            4.9/6.1                                                                           90/300         72/70                 1504 1 201-64 30 p-% 180 150 2.42 E-3  2.5 40 1.8  78/72                      1504 2 201-64 30 p-% 180 150 3.51 E-3  2.4 35 1.9                             1504 3 201-64 30 p-% 180 150 2.67 E-3  2.5 38 1.9                             1504 4 201-64 20 p-% 180 150 6.15 E-8  2.7 83 1.6 2.5 78/72                   1504 5 201-64 20 p-% 180 150 7.31 E-8  2.6 77 1.7 2.5                         1504 6 201-64 20 p-% 180 150 4.40 E-8  2.8 85 1.6 2.5 77/71                   1504 13 201-64 30 p-% HC 180 150 4.63 E-3  2.6 17 2.3  79/78                  1504 14 201-64 30 p-% HC 180 150 4.46 E-3  2.6 18 2.3                         1504 15 201-64 30 p-% HC 180 150 5.78 E-3  2.5 17 2.3  78/77                  1504 16 201-64 20 p-% HC 180 150 2.49 E-3  2.4 30 1.9  78/74                  1504 17 201-64 20 p-% HC 180 150 2.85 E-3  2.3 55 1.8 0.8                     1504 18 201-64 20 p-% HC 180 150 2.62 E-3  2.1 44 1.1  77/72                  1504 19 201-64 10 p-% HC 180 150 <1.0 E-12  3.2 137 2.2 1.1 71/67                                                                      1504 20 201-64                                                               15 p-% HC 180                                                                 150 7.57 E-8                                                                  2.5 81 2.4 1.5                                                                ?                     2004-15 201-64 15 p-% HC     2.5 71 1.6                                       2004-16 201-64 15 p-% HC     2.2 59 1.6                                        201-80 0%     8.4/10.8 90/360   90/90                                        1504 7 201-80 30 p-% 180 150 (9.16 E-8)  4.5 38 3.7  84/84                    1504 8 201-80 30 p-% 180 150 1.89 E-3  4.3 40 3.7                             1504 9 201-80 30 p-% 180 150 1.46 E-3  4.3 45.6 3.7                           1504 10 201-80 20 p-% 180 150 4.88 E-8  4.3 52 3.4 3.5                        1504 11 201-80 20 p-% 180 150 5.26 E-8  4.4 79 3.5 4.3                        1504 12 201-80 20 p-% 180 150 6.81 E-8  4.9 84.7 3.4 4.8 91/85                2004-1 201-80 30 p-% HC     4 28 3.8                                          2004-2 201-80 30 p-% HC     3.9 11 3.1                                        2004-12 201-80 30 p-% HC     3.8 13 3.7                                       2004-3 201-80 20 p-% HC     4 35 3.6                                          2004-4 201-80 20 p-% HC     3.9 33 3.6                                        2004-5 201-80 20 p-% HC     4 40 3.5                                        __________________________________________________________________________

                                      APPENDIX 4                                  __________________________________________________________________________                            Matrixes:                                                                           Estane 53300                                       Estane 58260                                                                 Complexes: Panisol                                                             HC Panisol                                                                                      Rotation                                                                           Conductivity                                                                        Conductivity                                                                         Tensile                                                                           Modulus                                                                            Modulus   Hardness                                                                        Elastomer-                                                                  Panisol-                                                                      Temperature,                                                                  speed 2-point                                                                 4-point                                                                       strength 10%                                                                  50% Elongation                                                                IRHD/                 Test matrix complex ° C. 1/min S/cm S/cm MPa MPa MPa % ShA           __________________________________________________________________________    Manu-                                                                             53300                                                                              0%                            32            700  80 ShA                fact.                                                                         2104 1 53300 30 p-% 180 150 5.70 E-13 NIA NIA NIA NIA NIA 84/79                                                                        2104 2 53300                                                                 30 p-% 170 150                                                                4.70 E-13 NIA                                                                 NIA NIA NIA NIA                                                               78/75                 2104 3 53300 30 p-% 160 150 4.30 E-13 NIA NIA NIA NIA NIA 77/75                                                                        2104 4 53300                                                                 30 p-% 150 150                                                                3.30 E-13 NIA                                                                 NIA NIA NIA NIA                                                               80/74                 2104 5 53300 30 p-% HC 150 150 3.10 E-10 NIA NIA NIA NIA NIA 84/81                                                                     2104 6 53300                                                                 30 p-% HC 160                                                                 150 4.90 E-10                                                                 NIA NIA NIA NIA                                                               NIA 88/82                                                                      2104 7 53300                                                                 30 p-% HC 170                                                                 150 2.40 E-11                                                                 NIA NIA NIA NIA                                                               NIA 83/80                                                                      2104 8 53300                                                                 30 p-% HC 180                                                                 150 2.56 E-11                                                                 NIA NIA NIA NIA                                                               NIA 79/83                                                                      2104 9 58206                                                                 30 p-% HC 180                                                                 150 1.96 E-09                                                                 NIA NIA NIA NIA                                                               NIA 92/93                                                                      2104 10 58206                                                                30 p-% HC 190                                                                 150 3.68 E-08                                                                 NIA NIA NIA NIA                                                               NIA 94/94                                                                      2104 11 58206                                                                30 p-% HC 170                                                                 150 1.33 E-03                                                                 NIA NIA NIA NIA                                                               NIA 89/92                                                                      2104 12 58206                                                                30 p-% 180 150                                                                3.33 E-07 NIA                                                                 NIA NIA NIA NIA                                                               90/90                 2104 13 58206 30 p-% 180 150 8.42 E-07 NIA NIA NIA NIA NIA 89/89                                                                       2104 14 58206                                                                30 p-% HC 180                                                                 150 7.65 E-08                                                                 NIA NIA NIA NIA                                                               NIA --/96                                                                      2104 15 58206                                                                30 p-% HC 170                                                                 150 1.08 E-08                                                                 NIA NIA NIA NIA                                                               NIA 92/91           __________________________________________________________________________

                                      APPENIX 5                                   __________________________________________________________________________    PACREL P6                                                                       PACREL 122                                                                        Panisol                                                                    HC Panisol   Rotation Conductivity Tensile Modulus Modulus                   Complexes Elastomer- Panisol- Temperature, speed, 4-point, strength 10%                                                            50% Elongation                                                                Hardness                 Test matrix complex ° C. 1/min S/cm MPa MPa MPa % IRHD/ShA           __________________________________________________________________________    EBA/pBA                                                                             PACREL P6                                                                            0     180   150        3,1 1,1  2,6  82   67/73                    EBA/pBA PACREL P6 0 180 150  3,1 1,1 2,6 79 75/73                             EBA/pBA PACREL P6 0 180 150  3,2 1,1 2,7 89 76/73                             2405 1 PACREL P6 30 pt-% 180 150 1,30E-03 1,5 -- -- 9 74/71                   2405 2 PACREL P6 30 pt-% 180 150 3,51E-04 1,5 -- -- 7                         2405 3 PACREL P6 30 pt-% 180 150 3,72E-04 1,6 -- -- 7                         2405 4 PACREL P6 20 pt-% 180 150 1,37E-04 1,9 1,7 -- 21 74/73                 2405 5 PACREL P6 20 pt-% 180 150 1,19E-04 2 1,6 -- 28                         2405 6 PACREL P6 20 pt-% 180 150 1,39E-04 2 1,6 -- 30                         2405 7 PACREL P6 10 pt-% 180 150 5,45E-06 2,9 1,2 2,6 87 75/72                2405 8 PACREL P6 10 pt-% 180 150 1.69E-06 2,5 1,1 2,3 78                      2405 9 PACREL P6 10 pt-% 180 150 1,03E-6 2,7 1,2 2,5 79                       2405 10 PACREL P6 30 pt-% HC 180 150 1,77E-06 2 1,4 2 65 79/74                2405 11 PACREL P6 30 pt-% HC 180 150 8,10E-06 2 1,4 2 60                      2405 12 PACREL P6 30 pt-% HC 180 150 2,36E-06 2 1,4 2 71                      2405 13 PACREL P6 20 pt-% HC 180 150 3,48E-12 2,4 1,2 2,2 88 77/72                                                                  2405 14 PACREL P6                                                            20 pt-% HC 180 150                                                            3,26E-12 2,4 1,3                                                              2,3 67                   2405 15 PACREL P6 20 pt-% HC 180 150 3,47E-12 2,3 1,2 2,1 90                            ShD                                                                 PP/pA PACREL 122 0 180 150  6 3,1 -- 47 25                                    PP/pA PACREL 122 0 180 150  6,5 3 6,2 54                                      PP/pA PACREL 122 0 180 150  6,5 3,5 -- 47                                     1905 1 PACREL 122 30 pt-% 180 150 7,71E-04                                    1905 2 PACREL 122 30 pt-% 180 150 1,32E-3 2,6 -- -- 5 22                      1905 3 PACREL 122 30 pt-% 180 150 3,34E-04                                    1905 4 PACREL 122 20 pt% 180 150 4,01E-04                                     1905 5 PACREL 122 20 pt-% 180 150 5,49E-04 2,8 -- -- 5 22                     1905 6 PACREL 122 20 pt-% 180 150 5,51E-04 3,5 3,3 -- 14                      1905 7 PACREL 122 10 pt-% 180 150 5,05E-05 4,9 3,1 -- 38 23                   1905 8 PACREL 122 10 pt-% 180 150 4,81E-05 5,1 3 -- 40                        1905 9 PACREL 122 10 pt-% 180 150 3,04E-05 5,1 3 -- 44                        2405 16 PACREL 122 30 pt-% HC 180 150 7,53E-04 2,8 1,3 -- 9 24                2405 17 PACREL 122 30 pt-% HC 180 150 2,19E-04 3,4 3,2 -- 14                  2405 18 PACREL 122 30 pt-% HC 180 150 2,10E-04 3,5 3,2 -- 15                  2405 19 PACREL 122 20 pt-% HC 180 150 3,63E-10 3,9 3,2 -- 18 22                                                                     2405 20 PACREL                                                               122 20 pt-% HC 180                                                            150 7,22E-10 3,9                                                              2,9 -- 27                2405 21 PACREL 122 20 pt-% HC 180 150 1,04E-10 4,1 3,1 -- 27                __________________________________________________________________________

We claim:
 1. An electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend,characterized in that it comprisesa) above 10 to 99 w-% of athermoplastic elastomer component which has been chosen from thefollowing typesAn A-B-A type of styrene block copolymer in which Astands for a polystyrene block and B stands for a soft or elasticpolymer block; A blend of an olefin homopolymer or olefin copolymer anda crosslinked elastomer and b) about 90-1 w-% of an inherentlyelectrically conductive polymer component, which is composed ofpolyaniline or its derivative which has been doped by a protonic acid.2. An electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according toclaim 1, characterized in that the portion of component b) is about 90-5w-%.
 3. An electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blendaccording to claim 2, wherein the portion of component b) is about 40-10w-%.
 4. An electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blendaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the elastomer component a)is an A-B-A type of styrene block copolymer in which A is a polystyreneblock and B is a poly(ethylene-co-butylene) block (SEBS).
 5. Anelectrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim1, characterized in that the elastomer component a) is a blend ofpropylene homopolymer and ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) inwhich the rubber is crosslinked (vulcanized).
 6. An electricallyconductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim 1,characterized in that the elastomer component a) has been chosen fromthe following types: a blend of poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate) andacrylate rubber; a blend of poly (ethylene-co-butylacrylate) andacrylate rubber; a blend of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) andacrylate rubber; a blend of polypropylene random copolymer and acrylaterubber.
 7. An electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blendaccording to claim 5, characterized in that the acrylic rubber in theelastomer component a) is a C₁ -C₁₂ -alkyl-acrylate polymer or a C₄ -C₁₄-alkylmethacrylate polymer, with a glass transition temperature below+20° C.
 8. An electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blendaccording to claim 5, characterized in that the acrylate rubber in theelastomer component a) represents 20-90 w-% of the blend.
 9. Anelectrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim6, wherein the acrylate rubber is made in situ and crosslinked.
 10. Anelectrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim6, characterized in that the acrylic rubber in the elastomer componenta) is a C₂ -C₁₂ -alkyl-acrylate polymer or a C₈ -C₁₄ -alkylmethacrylatepolymer.
 11. An electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blendaccording to claim 6, wherein the acrylic rubber in the elastomercomponent a) has a glass transition temperature below -20° C.
 12. Anelectrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim6, characterized in that the acrylic rubber in the elastomer componenta) is an ethylhexylacrylate polymer or a butyl-acrylate polymer.
 13. Anelectrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim1, characterized in that the inherently electrically conductive polymercomponent b) is composed of the emeraldine base polyaniline which hasbeen doped with a protonic acid.
 14. An electrically conductivethermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim 1, characterized inthat the inherently electrically conductive polymer component b) ispolyaniline or its derivative, which has been doped with a protonic acidwhich is an organic sulphonic acid.
 15. An electrically conductivethermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim 14, wherein the organicsulphonic acid is an aromatic sulphonic acid.
 16. An electricallyconductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim 15, whereinthe aromatic sulphonic acid is dodecyl-benzene sulphonic acid.
 17. Anelectrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim1, characterized in that the inherently electrically conductive polymercomponent b) is a product made from polyaniline or its derivative and aprotonic acid and which has been made by contacting polyaniline or itsderivative and the protonic acid under high shear forces at atemperature of about 80-250° C.
 18. An electrically conductivethermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim 17, wherein thepolyaniline or its derivative and the protonic acid are contacted bymixing in melt compounding equipment.
 19. An electrically conductivethermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim 1, characterized inthat the inherently electrically conductive polymer component b) also,comprises a metal compound.
 20. An electrically conductive thermoplasticelastomer blend according to claim 19, wherein the metal compound is ametal salt or a reaction product of a metal oxide or metal hydroxide anda protonic acid.
 21. An electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomerblend according to claim 20, wherein the metal compound is the reactionproduct of zinc oxide and dodecyl-benzene sulphonic acid.
 22. Anelectrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim1, characterized in that it has been obtained by melt processing thethermoplastic elastomer component a) and the inherently electricallyconductive polymer component b).
 23. An electrically conductivethermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim 12, characterized inthat it has been obtained by melt processing a thermoplastic elastomercomponent a) which is a named A-B-A type of styrene block copolymer andthe inherently electrically conductive polymer component b) using anextruder with a temperature of about 160°-210° C.
 24. An electricallyconductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim 23, whereinthe extruder has a screw rotation speed of about 40-170 l/min.
 25. Anelectrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim12, characterized in that it has been obtained by melt processing athermoplastic elastomer component a) which is a blend of an olefinhomopolymer or olefin copolymer with a thermoplastic or crosslinkedelastomer, and an inherently electrically conductive polymer componentb) using an extruder with a temperature of about 165-220° C.
 26. Anelectrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blend according to claim25, wherein the extruder has a screw rotation speed of about 50-200l/min.
 27. An antistatic material and/or EMI shielding materialcomprising an electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blendaccording to claim
 1. 28. An electrically conductive thermoplasticelastomer blend according to claim 1, wherein the olefin is ethylene orpropylene.
 29. An electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer blendaccording to claim 1, wherein the A-B-A-type styrene block copolymer ispresent in an amount of 60-90 w-%.